Finger-exercising device



A il 20,1926. H. A. SOREL -FINGER EXERCISIIG DEVICE Filed March 25. 1921 UNETEB STATES HENRY A. SLOREL, OF CHICAGO, ELLIIIOZS.

FiIIGER-EXERCISING DEVICE.

Application filed March 25, 1941. Serial No. 455,755.

cit izeu of he linited States, residing at Chic i in the county of Coo and State of Illinoa, ha invented a certain new and useful improve: it in Finger-Thermsing Devices,

of which the following is a full, clear, concise and erzact description, reference being had to the accoinpzinying drz'W-Jings forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the a 'tance of students of typeivriting and their instructor, and more specifically to an lll'lPlfiVGCl device for facilitating the culti ration of free movement of the fingers or the operatofis hand.

Cue object of my invention is to provide cc by means of -which the various muscles of the arm and hand of the student may be held to restrain them from movement or released to perform specified movements and restraining other movements. to assist in the development of various muscles and to help the student to acquire improved control 03:? the motor nerve leading to those muscles and the muscles themselves.

rrnother object of my invention is to provide a very simple device for accon'iplishing the purposes above outlined, which device ernnprises a minimum number of parts, cheap to manufacture, easy to assemble and durable in practice.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent in the description and claims.

The accompanying drawing shows pers ective YlGW of one of the preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the embodiment of my invention select-- ed for illustration, a base 10 supports a block 12 suitably shaped for engagement on its upper surface vvith the palm of the hand. For this purpose simple upholstering is preferably provided on the upper side of the block 12 such as the filling ll and the retaining cover 16. The hand of the user of the device is laid over the block 12 and clamped thereto in such manner as to restrain movement of one Wrist or shoulder joint. at least in so far as such movement might result in a displacement of the hand or of the fingers projecting past the bloclr 19.. Suitable clamping means has been illustrated in the nature of a U-shaped metal clip 18 carrying a pad 20 to engage the back of the hand and s otted a at 22 to receive a guide bolt 24;. A shackle 26 holds the clip 18 upright, and a Wing; nut 28 may be em ployed to clamp the clip in adjusted posi tion.

i'rou face i"? the block 12 contains a series of five holes 30, 32, 3d, and 38. spaced below the top of the bloc -r in suitable position to rec ive the fingers 01 the hand or the student. In using the device illustrated on the right hand of the student the index jer will enter hole 32, the second finger hole 34h the third finger hole 36, and the fourth or little finger hole 38. The student may 110W Withdraw l0 finger at a time from its corresponding hole and exercise the same by movin about freely While the other liners are held rather firmly against any movements Whatever by engagement with the holes in which they are entered. .lt is thus possible for th student in a rela' tively short length of time to acquire much better control of the individual muscles and the movements of the individual fingers than could be accomplished by ordiiiary typewriting ivorlr continued for almost any length of time In the touch system using the standard icy board, the first or index finger of each hand is used for tWo keys in each lOW so that it must often be thrown sideways from the rest of the fingers to engage the extra hey. After sulficient facility in the movement and control of the individual fingers has been acquired, additional practice in throwing the hand into the position for op erating the extra keys with the index finger may be accomplished by slipping the index r into hole 30 instead of hole 32. This will space the fingers substantially as thev should be spaced if the student's hands were resting; on the keyboard of a typewriter, and additional finger exercises with the hand in this position Will soon strengthen the index finger and accustom it to its Work.

T he same device may be employed for exercisi o; the left hand except that, obviously, the li (l6 finger of the left hand will enter hole 30, the third finger hole 32, the second finger hole and the first or index finger a): Will be used in holes 36 and 38.

Longitudinal adjustment of the block 12 is preferably but not necessarily provided to accommodate variations in the length of the operators arm. I have illustrated holding screws 40 passing through slots 4-52 in the base 10 to clamp the block 12 in longitudinally adjusted position. The base 10 is preferably spaced from the desk or other supporting surface upon which the device rests, by end pedestals 44-.

Vhile I have illustrated and described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention and indicated the method in Which I propose to use it, it should be clearly understood that the description and indication of use are only for purposes of illustration and that many modifications of the device and many other uses for the same will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will for instance, be obvious that students of the piano may readily find the exercise 01 the fingers and development of the muscles obtainable with my improved device, distinctly advantageous. I aim in the appended claims to cover all legitimate variations and modifications of my device and all.

proper methods of using the same.

I claim:

1. In an educational appliance, in combination, a block adapted to receive the palm of the hand of the operator, means for clamping the operators hand is position on said block, said block having a series or" holes along its front face to receive the ends of the fingers of the operators hand.

2. In an educational appliance, in combination, a block adapted to engage the palm of the hand of the operator, means for clamping the operators hand in position on the block, said block having a series of holes along its front face to receive the fingers of the operators hand, said holes being greater in number than the fingers o1 one hand, whereby different spaced relationships of the fingers may be attained by shifting them fr in one hole to another.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of March, 1921.

HENRY A. SOREL. 

